A visit to the Galápagos Islands changes you, as it changed Charles Darwin. You will return from these islands filled with a sense of wonder, and a clearer view of nature’s fragile beauty. The Galápagos is a glimpse of what life was like before humans threw their weight around, and a reminder that when we seek out perfection, we throw a wrench in nature’s works.

The Galápagos give a glimpse of what the world must have been like at the dawn of time, reminding us of both the power and playfulness of nature. Reptiles (such as giant tortoises and iguanas) rule the land, and a magnificent array of fish, rays, sharks, sea lions, turtles, and penguins present a natural spectacle underwater. The rugged volcanic landscapes—blackened lava trails and smoldering craters —make the geology as fascinating as the wildlife.

Located 50 miles southeast of Juneau, the 653,000-acre Tracy Arm–Fords Terror Wilderness contains country that rivals Glacier Bay National Park but costs half as much to reach. With massive glaciers and lots of wildlife, including harbor seals, killer whales, mountain goats, and black bears, there’s a lot to experience in this wild part of Alaska.

Back in January, Laura Martone was fortunate enough to be invited on a press trip to Yellowstone National Park – and even though her husband, Dan, who just happens to be her favorite traveling companion, wasn’t able to join her on the trip, it was truly a memorable excursion into a fascinating winter wonderland.

The Pantanal itself begins as you continue south from Poconé along the Rodovia Transpantaneira. Watering holes along the rodovia attract a wealth of wildlife, making the journey into a fantastic safari.

Soaring cliffs dropping to sporadic white-sand beaches exemplify the Big Sur coastline made legendary in film and literature. The region is explored via Highway 1, also called the Pacific Coast Highway, a road that hugs sheer cliffs and passes several state parks, resorts, and restaurants like Nepenthe, seemingly perched on the edge of the world.

Nicaragua’s cleanest and most enticing swimming hole is Laguna de Apoyo, just outside of Masaya. Actually a lake that formed in the drowned volcanic crater of the long extinct Apoyo Volcano, the lagoon floor reaches 200 meters in depth—the lowest point in all of Central America. Considering how easy it is to reach the lagoon, it is surprisingly untouristed.

There are a variety of attractions in and around Flores and Santa Elena that work well if you have a day or half a day while awaiting connecting flights or onward travel. ARCAS, Petencito Zoo, and Tayazal are a five-minute boat ride across the lake from Flores’s north shore, while the Parque Natural Ixpanpajul covers an area of nine square kilometers and is conveniently just off the highway toward Guatemala City.

Whale-watching has become a spring ritual off Bermuda’s South Shore, the migration route for humpbacks as they travel from the Caribbean to north Atlantic feeding grounds. Between March and April, pods of humpback whales can be spotted, even from the shoreline.